, 1887-08-21
THE ASSASSINATION.
The Coroner and the Dead Mans
Brother Talk.
Nothing New Learned from Twenty
Witnesses.
Suspicious Circumstances Noted by
the Brother.
A Reward of $1,000 Offered for the
Murderer.

Coroner Chaftln, accompanied by ID. D..
Selden, brother of The man recently as
sassinated at Mauville, this county, ar.
rived on the Cheyenne u Northern last
evening. The Official was met by a
LEADER representative at the train and
said:
The inquest over the remains of the
late o. B. Selden lasted two days and a
portion of two nights. One session was
held at Manville and one at Lusk. The
jury was composed OF G. NJ. Longer,
foreman, o. P. Goodwin, Peter Sweeney,
John Huff, j. H. Calkins and Mike
Loud, all of whom are well known in this
city. About twenty witnesses were ex-
ahmed, and not one of them heard the
testimony given by another. A verdict
was rendered to the effect that Oscar B
Sheldon came to his death by a gun shot
wound inflicted by unknown parties.
There are absolutely no new developments
in the case. Every clue that gave promise
of revealing unknown facts or unearthing,
new theories was followed to the end, but
invariably with the same result. Sus-
picion points toward no one.
There was not even enough
evidence introduced to warrant the officers
in making an arrest. Deputy Sheriff
Owens is doing all that man possibly can
do to ferret the great mystery, and is con
fdent that he will succeed. Two different
men have been suspected of the crime,
but there is absolutely no foundation for
the accusations, which are merely whis
pered and intimated. The shooting was
undoubtedly done with a shotgun, which
was lightly charged and certainly pre-
pared for the occasion. The ball ex-
tracted from Selden's body was a very
large one, So calibre, | think. Ehe ball
which is presumed to have been intended
for Mrs. Selden was not found, though
the dent it made upon the floor was
plainly visible, and the ball should have
been in the ROOM"
Judge D. J. Selden, of Omaha, the
brother the deceased, was interviewed by
a reporter at Dyer's hotel.
The entire circumstance is an unfath
ENABLE mystery so far as [ am concerned.
| am satisfied that the motive for the
heartless murder was revenge, and am
confident hat the assassin did not follow
my brother from Omaha or anywhere
else. [ an totally in the dark and have
not even formed a suspicion as to who
committed the cowardly crime. Evidence
was introduced which developed the fact
that my brother had warm words and a
dispute with a stockman who lived in that
vicinity, but this same man attended the
funeral and visited the house several
times during my stay, and do not sus-
pect him.
1T is preposterous to suppose hat the
motive was robbery. My brother was y
years old. His wife is 10. A thief would
have met with no resistance in an attempt
to secure plumber.
II do not believe these stories about
Selden, Shelter & Co. inducing people to
locate in Manvill upon false representa-
tons.
There are twelve occupied houses upon
the townsite, but not over two persons
heard the fatal shot fired.
Mrs. Selden supposed that the lamp,
which was extinguished by conclusion,
had exploded. She was not aware that a
cruel bullet fired by an assassin had ended
her husbands existence, until lights were
brought. She bears up remarkably well
under the terrible strain.
II noticed two very peculiar and suspic-
ious circumstances in connection with the
affair. Several men searched the floor of
the room where the second bullet I'M
doubtedly fell. The bullet was not found.
Perhaps the man who fired it secured the
deadly missile and concealed it. How
ever, the other bullet is in the possession
Of the coroner, and may assist in %unravel-
ing the mystery.
My brothers face was badly bruised
as though he had been struck several
times with a six shooter. May not the
assassin have entered the building during
III aDoCuSS VI hIS. DGluGu dlu ulduG
assurance doubly sure by assaulting the
already fatally wounded man?
Oscar was worth 5000, 900, every cent
of which he willed to his wife. he had
two children, a son and a daughter. Both
are married. The former is a school
teacher at the Yankton Indian reserva-
ton. The daughter lives in Southern
Nebraska. | will visit her and endeavor
to persuade her to hereafter reside with
her mother at Manville.
Mrs. Selden and myself have offered
81 900 reward for the arrest of the perpe-
traitors of the dastardly deed, and | will
attempt to induce the governor of Wyo-
ming to increase the sum. | was assured
during my visit to Lusk and Manville
that the murderer would be lynched if
apprehended. | think it would be right.
'Thc body has been temporarily in
inferred at Manville, but will be removed
to Omaha upon the adven; of cold